DUNDEE, Scotland–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ubiquigent Limited, a company focused on enabling and supporting
ubiquitin system-focused drug discovery, announced today that it had
entered into an agreement with Dorian Therapeutics to provide access to
one of its novel small molecule libraries specifically designed to
target deubiquitylase (DUB) enzymes.
Under the terms of the agreement Ubiquigent will provide Dorian with
access to the library as both a physical compound collection and a
dataset where the library has been screened by Ubiquigent for DUB
inhibitory activity using its DUBprofiler™
screening platform. The intention is to provide Dorian with novel hits
that can form the basis of drug discovery programmes.
Ubiquigent
is a world-leading provider of biology assay services, novel chemistry
and expertise in the emerging space of ubiquitin-system and protein
degradation drug discovery. Historically, one of the main rate-limiting
factors has been the availability of small molecules to support early
drug development. This agreement with Dorian builds on Ubiquigent’s
strategy of developing highly-targeted, small molecule libraries focused
on unlocking the potential of targeting DUB enzymes for the development
of novel therapeutics.
Ubiquigent continues to provide access to its ubiquitin system focused
capabilities to the wider scientific community including its Research
Tools, Drug
Discovery Services, and non-exclusive
compound libraries. It will also continue to explore other
opportunities for strategic
collaborations in the ubiquitin field.
Ubiquigent’s Managing Director, Mr. Jason Mundin commented: “We are
extremely pleased to enter into this initial agreement with Dorian and
look forward to developing our relationship based on our shared interest
and expertise in the DUB field. This agreement further supports our
strategy of supporting companies seeking to exploit the ubiquitin system
for therapeutic benefit.”
Dorian’s Co-Founder and CEO, Dr. Maddalena Adorno also shared her
enthusiasm for the collaboration: “We hope that this is just the
beginning of a fruitful partnership, and that together we will make an
impact on the way we treat age-associated diseases. DUBs are powerful
targets which haven’t been fully explored until now, but we are here to
change that.”
Ubiquigent Limited enables and supports protein degradation focused drug
discovery via modulation and exploitation of the ubiquitin system. Our
chemistry and biology platforms allow us to design and develop novel
compounds as part of strategic partnerships. In parallel we also provide
access to our platforms and capabilities for the evaluation of our
partners’ compounds.
Ubiquigent provides support to programmes in a number of ways ranging
from larger Collaborative
Drug Discovery Programmes for the delivery of hit and lead
compounds, the provision of assay development compound profiling Drug
Discovery Services on a CRO basis, through to the supply of Research
Tools and reagents. At every stage Ubiquigent leverages its
ubiquitin system focused knowledge and expertise to support partner
programmes.
Dorian Therapeutics is a Silicon Valley start-up focused on developing
treatments that block aging in degenerative diseases and during cellular
therapy. Committed to commercialising technologies developed over the
last decade, Dorian’s innovative approach benefits from the convergence
of stem cell therapy, aging biology, and immunotherapy. Founded by two
Stanford alumni, the company has the support of private VCs and top
biotech incubators, including Y Combinator and StartX.
About the ubiquitin system
The ubiquitin system offers many new drug discovery target opportunities
across multiple therapeutic areas including cancer, cardiovascular and
metabolic, neurological and musculoskeletal, and infection and immunity.
Involving the modification of proteins through the attachment of the
protein ubiquitin, or ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls), ubiquitylation and
related Ubl modifications are key to the control of cellular protein
homeostasis as well as signalling, akin to the critical role played by
phosphorylation (approximately 30% of commercial drug discovery
programmes target phosphorylation enzymes) and holds similar if not
greater potential for clinical utility.
Contacts
Jason Mundin
Managing Director, Ubiquigent Ltd.
E-mail: jason.mundin@ubiquigent.com
Phone:
+44-7976-000683